Aliter always has a people-first approach to everything we do. Today, as part of our People of Aliter series of interviews, we showcase the people behind the brand.
Our guest today is Ashankith Gopal Krishna, Finance Manager at Aliter. Ashankith has been working with us for more than a year now. We talk to him about his experiences with Aliter and how work has progressed despite a global pandemic.
Can you tell us about your role and what made you decide to join Aliter?
Sure thing! I’m the finance manager here at Aliter, and I’ve been with them for a year now. I’ve always worked in finance and eventually, you come to a point in your career where you know you’re good at what you do.
The challenge actually comes from doing what you do for something that is important. Two things were at play here – one, I have an affinity to startups, scale-ups, and the like. My mentality has always been that of a builder – I want to be actively involved in the growth process.
And two, I wanted to be a part of something that is important not just to me, but to a global audience. So the reason I chose Aliter is that their message was bigger than all of us and what they were doing mattered.
“The reason I chose Aliter is that their message was bigger than all of us and what they were doing mattered.”
In the end, what sold me the idea when I spoke to Heath, Andre, and especially Odette was their unilateral approach to all issues related to people, planet, and profit. To me, it seemed an excellent place to build something that would matter to everyone.
What do you love most about your role, and what exciting projects/moments have you been involved in?
There are so many things I love about my role. Finance has its own unique challenges.I know what I’m going to be doing for 70% of my day, but the 30% is going to be things that come out of nowhere. As a company grows, there are bound to be issues that come with it.
As finance, we are involved with this growth phase in some way or the other. Another part of my role has to do with Aliter’s metamorphosis into a scale-up. This meant getting an in-house finance department ready.
The goal was to get the finance department lean, scalable, and ready for the future. I’m an extremely goal-oriented person, and I love the challenge of creating, maintaining, and monitoring a critical support function like finance.
My goal for Aliter, as far as my department is concerned, is simple – make peoples’ lives easier. We want to make this as smooth as possible so Aliterians have access to actionable financial information. About exciting projects, building the entire finance ecosystem at Aliter for me is a huge project in itself.
“My goal for Aliter, as far as my department is concerned, is simple – make peoples’ lives easier.”
What’s your favorite part about the place you’re working from?
Well, that’s easy – the weather (laughs). No, I’m just kidding. I keep joking about it, but apart from a few days, it’s nice and cool, and I like it. I love the Netherlands for a lot of reasons. They’re very welcoming people and always willing to help.
It is a great environment to work and live in. The ease of getting things done here is great, and if I grumble about trivial things like the weather, then it’s a good indicator that you really don’t have much to complain about.
What was your experience like as a candidate?
I felt it was a seamless experience for me. To be honest, it really didn’t seem like a formal interview process that most other corporations have. The process was very conversational and light. They wanted to get to know me and make sure that I was at ease.
To me, this was a sign that I was not just a resume to them but a person who they want to know better. Of course, there were technical questions directed at me, which I answered too.
But they went the extra mile getting to know me and understanding how I would fit in Aliter as a person rather than just my job title. And that to me seemed like the way to go about an interview.
“They went the extra mile getting to know me and understanding how I would fit in Aliter as a person rather than just my job title.”
What do you think makes your department special?
Well, I don’t know if we are special! (laughs) I think we’re important and connected to all the other departments here. This means we’re always at the ready for when issues crop up. And it’s not just about problems, we also need to make regular improvements across the board that benefit everyone.
What makes my department special to me would be that we’re involved in every step forward the company takes. Even though it is a collective effort, I feel the finance department is responsible and accountable for the growth of the firm.
” What makes my department special to me would be that we’re involved in every step forward the company takes.”
What advice would you give to someone who is looking to work remotely?
For people who’re just getting into remote work, I’d say go for it. There are a lot of benefits that it brings to you. For me, my mantra remains the same for home or office – you need to be comfortable. It contributes greatly to your productivity and your mental wellness.
Being in a comfortable environment helps you come up with creative solutions to issues. Finance involves a lot of numbers and analysis and it’s imperative that I’m in a place that is conducive to my needs.
To sum up, if you feel that working from home a certain number of days in a week helps you perform the best, then definitely do it.
How do you find working remotely, and what do you do to stay connected to your team?
To me, working from home means I don’t need to worry about several issues. Once you’re used to separating work from home, the rest, I think, is smooth sailing. Some days I like working from home and other days from the office.
We connect with other Aliterians through a 9-11 company-wide, global communication session. The theme doesn’t necessarily have to be about work. Apart from that, every department has catch-ups of their own at different times during the day.
So, we are all very much in the loop with each other, and I don’t think it has affected that sense of belonging we have. My thoughts on working from home and hybrid working are that they are here to stay, and rightfully so.
Do you have any tips you’d like to share with aspiring Aliterians?
There are several qualities that I think make working here enjoyable for me. If you are good at what you do and feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day, having delivered something tangible that has value to a global narrative, then we are your tribe.
Aliter is growing rapidly, and we are looking for like-minded people who are as enthusiastic about performance and sustainability as we are. You are surrounded by people who are helpful and friendly, and it’s a great place to progress at a personal and professional level.
If you think that this sounds like the place you want to be in, come join us at Aliter!
“Aliter is growing rapidly, and we are looking for like-minded people who are as enthusiastic about performance and sustainability as we are.”
Aliter is an equal-opportunity employer and is on the lookout for people who love being part of something bigger than themselves and have fun doing that. Check our careers page for opportunities that suit your skillset.
